Research shows that a broad curriculum, including the arts, significantly enhances literacy and numeracy outcomes. Despite the Prime Minister’s apparent disregard for the arts, evidence suggests that arts-rich education improves overall academic performance, including in subjects like math and reading comprehension. Addressing educational challenges requires nuanced solutions rather than simple fixes. Success in literacy and numeracy is linked to broader social inequities and other issues, such as the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, teacher recruitment and retention, and political stability in education policy. A thoughtful, bipartisan approach is essential for meaningful progress.
